Lopez's non-profit loses everything when accounting firm shuts its doors
As a doctoral student at UC Santa Cruz studying the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Ann Lopez was touched by the struggles of migrant workers and the relatives they left behind in Mexico. In response, she founded the Center for Farmworker Families in 2008 to provide education and economic assistance and advocacy.
But the Felton resident and San Jose City College environmental science professor knew little about the business of operating a nonprofit so she turned to the International Humanities Center for help in handling donations and accounting services.
So did more than 200 other small nonprofits. Most saw their money disappear when the Southern California-based nonprofit abruptly closed its doors in January.
Lopez's organization saw $5,000 in donations and a $6,000 grant disappear, funding the shoestring organization that operates tutoring programs to Pajaro Valley farmworker families could ill afford to lose.
“It's been absolute devastation, the fallout from this,” said Lopez.
